GOD WILL RESTORE

By: Donna Selma Lind

"After your season of suffering, God will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you." 1 Peter 5:10 

The middle meat of this verse, "GOD WILL" is sandwiched between SUFFERING and RESTORE. 

It doesn't say God maybe, God might, God needs to think about it.

Look closely.

It says; GOD WILL RESTORE!

Be assured, whenever GOD RESTORES a heart, He plants seeds of HIS LOVE deep down so something beautiful can replace the ugly! 

JESUS FOUND THE MUDDIEST PARTS OF MY HEART AND PLANTED FLOWERS OF HIS LOVE! 

Hallelujah! 

Praise the Lord and Share the Good News!

Donna Selma Lind 🌻

A SON FOR CHRISTMAS

By: Donna Selma Lind

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." Isaiah 9:6

 A young soldier returned home from the Vietnam war never to be the same. He had enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at seventeen years old. Not even old enough to vote, the other soldiers from 3rd Battalion 9th Marines nicknamed him, "The Kid." 

"The Kid," fought his way through the jungle surviving many battles only by the grace of God and prayers of his grandmother did he make it out. He was awarded a Combat Valor Bronze star when his company came under intense rocket propelled grenade fire and automatic weapon ground assault. His company K sustained many casualties. As bodies lie lifeless and bullets whizzed past his head, the Kid fearlessly moved across the fire-swept terrain and retrieved an abandoned M-60 machine gun lying in an area dangerously exposed to hostile fire. As he ran back to his fellow marines he realized the machine gun was inoperable, the Kid quickly corrected the malfunction and delivered a heavy volume of accurate fire against the advancing enemy. Continuing his determined efforts he then assisted in the evacuation of his comrades to a helicopter landing zone.

His heroic actions and aggressive fighting spirit were an inspiration to all who observed him. 

But nothing in combat had prepared him to become a father and yet a short time after he returned home from war that is exactly what happened.

Unable to take care of the child, the young mother and father made the painful decision to put the baby up for adoption. The newborn baby boy was adopted by a loving family. 

The soldier never knew what happened to his son, but he prayed daily for him to grow up to know the Lord and have a relationship with Jesus.

Fast forward forty seven years later. The message came, "Your son found you and would like to meet you!" 

They came for an early Christmas. A Father and Son brought together by God's Amazing Grace. 

The tears and laughter flowed and Joy filled our home as we shared our love for the Lord and for our new son, daughter in law and three precious new grandchildren! Our prayers had been answered, they were believers and our hearts were quickly knitted together. 

The similarities between father and son, two grandsons and granddaughter were remarkable.  

The way they tilt their heads, the manner in which the fold their arms, the shape of their nose and ears, their fun and active personalities. You cannot deny DNA. 

We have many years of catching up to do and many years of exciting new memories ahead. 

How do we possibly thank God for giving us the amazing gift of A SON FOR CHRISTMAS and a beautiful brand new family to go along with our son? 

"God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure." Ephesians 1:5

The similarities of this story about a Father and Son and another Father and Son come to mind. 

Over two thousand years ago a baby boy was born."Unto us a child is born, unto us a son was given."

This is the story of A SON FOR CHRISTMAS. The son of God born of the virgin Mary who came to take away the sins of the world. The son who hung on a cross and gave his life for you and me.

JESUS CAME AS A GIFT WRAPPED IN LOVE FOR CHRISTMAS! 

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift." 2 Corinthians 9:15

"For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Happy Birthday Jesus! Merry Christmas Blessings! 

Hallelujah!

Praise the Lord and Share the Good News!

Donna Selma Lind 💗

 

 

THE ONE THING

By: Donna Selma Lind

38 As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 Her sister Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. 40 But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come help me.”

41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42 NLT

Look at the differences between these two sisters who are both in the presence of the Lord. 

One sister saturates and soaks in the presence. The other sister is so busy and distracted that she totally misses the fact that her Lord and Savior is in the room, right in front of her eyes.

BUT MARTHA 

She was:

·     DISTRACTED- She Lost the Focus.

·     BUSY, BUSY, BUSY-  She had too many ACTIVITIES going.

·     PREPARATIONS- She was the original Martha Stewart perfectionist.

·     OVERWHELMED – She was out of God’s will.

·     WORRIED, ANGRY, UPSET, CRYING, COMPLAINING - Now she was worn out, on overload and mad at everyone else who was not on her crazy train! 

BUT MARY:

She was:

·     SITTING AT THE FEET OF JESUS - Surrendering herself, her time and attention. She was submissive and obedient as a servant is to her King.

·     LISTENING TO WHAT HE TAUGHT - She sat, Ready to receive. Soaking up wisdom and lessons from her Teacher, Rabbi and Lord.

·    THE ONE THING OF CONCERN - The one and only thing that matters, Jesus!

·     IT WON’T BE TAKEN AWAY FROM HER - What won’t be taken? Grace, Peace, Love and Joy. And her Relationship and Eternity with Jesus Christ.

MARTHA & MARY BOTH SERVANTS -

On this occasion, SERVING DIFFERENT MASTERS.

One serving and Pleasing People.

 One serving and Pleasing Jesus.

WHICH ONE ARE YOU?

·    WITH CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVITIES UPON US HOW CAN WE BE MORE LIKE MARY INSTEAD OF MARTHA?

KEYS TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE ONE THING DURING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS

* SIMPLIFY! Push the EASY BUTTON. Ask yourself, how can I simplify this? Peace & Simplicity go hand and hand. Less is More. Aim for Excellence Not Perfection!

·     * SAY NO TO CHRISTMAS CHAOS!  It’s okay to Say NO! Have good Boundaries, Stick to a Budget, have Limits on gifts, money, parties, food. Choose events wisely.  Don’t overbook your calendar. Schedule time for Jesus every day! Please God, Not People.

·    * PEOPLE CAN’T DRIVE YOU CRAZY IF YOU DON’T GIVE THEM THE KEYS!

·     We all know that one person that drives us crazy…Don’t give them the keys! Don’t allow a person or situation to steal your peace and joy! Pray for Self -Control, think before you speak, count to ten walk away. Don’t let people hijack your emotions. You can’t control how they act but you can control how you Re-act.

* TAKE FIVE. Stop, Breathe and Receive God’s peace.

·     

·     * ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE – Count your Blessings instead of your problems. Live each day with a grateful heart. Your attitude of gratitude is contagious, pass it on. Pay it forward for someone.  Serve others, volunteer in a ministry. Start a new family tradition. Make a Gratitude Board or journal and each day write down what you’re thankful for!

·     * HAVE GRACE & MERCY- EVERYONE IS FIGHTING A BATTLE. Christmas is a hard time for many. People are dealing with loss, loneliness, sadness, divorce depression, anxiety and grief. Reach out, call or text, invite them to church, get a cup of coffee, share an encouraging Bible verse, be a listening ear, give a hug. 

      ENCOURAGE, BE COMPASSIONATE. SHARE THE LOVE OF JESUS! 

 TOSS KINDNESS AROUND LIKE CONFETTI!  

·      

      * REMEMBER WHAT’S IMPORTANT.  

       JESUS IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.

       JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON.  

       PUT CHRIST BACK IN CHRISTMAS. 

      BAKE A CAKE AND SING HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS! 

·     DON’T GET SO BUSY WITH PREPARATION’S, DISTRACTIONS and CELEBRATIONS THAT YOU MISS OUT ON THE ONE THING.  

·     THE ONE THING IS JESUS.  

Hallelujah!

 Praise the Lord and Share the Good News!

Donna Selma Lind